tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26812716209900793522024-03-13T11:40:18.933-04:00The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay Golf Course MaintenanceAn informative look into the operations and practices of The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay Golf CoursePaul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-78115474078799400102020-04-20T18:04:00.000-04:002020-04-20T18:04:46.645-04:00Harrison Bay Eaglets HB15 and HB16 Hatch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy3Eyk3G-Qy8G2X6J8lKiQ46Fe6biJDX6KCXyVwT_F8DeaXRYT_j7FLlIbI-zbP5MSlbSr4PmNJi9BUr91E0EoyoxbzHedfodmisSwSX_AQUJsvIhu0BFe6ll-ebaF9SKVbNv-WlhYkA/s1600/20200420_09-31-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy3Eyk3G-Qy8G2X6J8lKiQ46Fe6biJDX6KCXyVwT_F8DeaXRYT_j7FLlIbI-zbP5MSlbSr4PmNJi9BUr91E0EoyoxbzHedfodmisSwSX_AQUJsvIhu0BFe6ll-ebaF9SKVbNv-WlhYkA/s320/20200420_09-31-05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If you have not heard by now, we have two new residents at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. HB15, hatched on 4/15/20, and HB16, hatched on 4/18/20, have joined the family. We are about a month behind schedule due to the tree and nest hoping that occurred earlier this year but we are happy they are here; happy and healthy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WbQRaJKPLman3McWr55dy_bVdtSphyavRjQXD9go0IeFz-R7Oyw_kwg5FTdyQtUknp6TCijkuNS3s_luDDA_wcXDS4PQwdWlIN_j3To_pTRhsda1BMHlENnnaxwCtYQiFpMIDdUcjDE/s1600/93702231_235524260983722_6939442509131022336_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WbQRaJKPLman3McWr55dy_bVdtSphyavRjQXD9go0IeFz-R7Oyw_kwg5FTdyQtUknp6TCijkuNS3s_luDDA_wcXDS4PQwdWlIN_j3To_pTRhsda1BMHlENnnaxwCtYQiFpMIDdUcjDE/s320/93702231_235524260983722_6939442509131022336_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>We got our first look at HB15 early on Wednesday morning when Elliott, ready to see his kid, rolled HB15 out of his half open egg. Sometimes a parent just has to give their child a nudge. As you can see in the picture HB15 is ready to eat and grow up to be big and strong.</div>
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Here is a good look at the pip in HB16's egg. The eaglet has a sharp egg tooth on the top of its beak which it will use to scratch the inside of the egg to create a small hole. From there it is a continuous process of breaking out small pieces of the egg until the hatch occurs.<br />
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So we are happy to welcome our newest residents to the property. Congratulations to Athena and Elliott on this years brood and we are hoping for many more years to come.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KUYOo6RKnOM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KUYOo6RKnOM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Of course sibling rivalries happen in every household and even day old eaglets have their disagreements. This is a common occurrence in nests and rarely results in harm or damage to the eaglets. It is a sign of dominance over the other eaglet to ensure one is fed first. I am confident HB16 will not let HB15 get away with this much longer as he/she gains strength and confidence.<br />
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I would like to thank Sue Yungwirth and Pamela Crosby, two long time moderators for HBEC, for the great screen captures used in this blog. <br />
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We are very sorry that we can not provide you with a streaming service of the nest this year. The best location for updates and pictures/videos of the nest will be either on the Harrison Bay Eagle Cam Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HarrisonBayEagleCam/">https://www.facebook.com/HarrisonBayEagleCam/</a> or The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay Twitter page <a href="https://twitter.com/BearTraceHB">https://twitter.com/BearTraceHB</a><br />
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We will do all we can to keep you up to date on the nest activities and the growth and health of HB15/16 as we can.</div>
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-87423292476198226162019-12-12T20:27:00.000-05:002019-12-12T20:27:59.524-05:00Become a Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The <a href="http://www.gcsaa.org/">Golf Course Superintendents Association of America</a> (GCSAA) is an association of over 18,000 turfgrass professionals dedicated to providing the highest quality playing conditions possible while promoting and protecting the environment, and supporting the growth and vitality of the game of golf. For years, golfers have expressed a keen interest in the possibility of becoming members of this great association to show their appreciation and support for the hard work GCSAA members put into their jobs. Until earlier this year there simply was not a membership classification that made this possible. That all changed when a new membership classification was introduced. The Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent classification will allow any interested person (who does not qualify for an existing <a href="https://www.gcsaa.org/about-gcsaa/membership/membership-classifications">membership classification</a>) to become a member of GCSAA. This classification is a perfect opportunity for golfers to join GCSAA and help protect the future of golf.<br />
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Supporting GCSAA and your local golf course superintendent should come with some reward, and it does. New Friend members will receive the following based on the level of membership chosen.<br />
<u>Individual</u><br />
<i><b>$50/yr</b> </i> (Basic)--E-Newsletter, GCSAA Bag Tag, GCSAA Ball Mark Repair Tool, and GCSAA Sticker<br />
<i><b>$100/yr</b></i> -- Basic package plus GCSAA Logo Golf Towel<br />
<b>$200/yr</b> -- Basic package plus GCSAA Logo Golf Towel and $25 GCSAA Gift Card<br />
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<u>Group Membership </u>(for up to 10 members)<br />
<b>$400/yr</b> -- Basic package plus GCSAA Logo Towel for <u><b>each</b> </u>member<br />
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Becoming a Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent is very easy and will help support the teams that make it possible to enjoy great golf courses. To get more information on this great opportunity and sign up to become a Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent simply log onto the website at </div>
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<a href="http://www.gcsaa.org/friend"><span style="font-size: x-large;">www.gcsaa.org/friend</span></a></div>
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We will also have print applications and information available in the clubhouse. If you have a question about this great opportunity, our golf course superintendent Paul L. Carter, CGCS will be happy to assist you. </div>
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-57798189641393429162019-12-03T19:48:00.000-05:002019-12-03T19:48:11.041-05:00Looking Back on 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been a while since our last blogpost. Close to a year to be exact which has been noticed by many and commented on by several. My apologies for not updating the blog more regularly this year. It has been a year of new adventures for me as I have stepped into my role as a Director on the <a href="https://www.gcsaa.org/">Golf Course Superintendents Association of America</a> board of directors. I am extremely thankful for our amazing agronomy staff who pour their passion and dedication into the conditioning of the course and allow me the opportunity to serve the golf industry as I enjoy doing.<br />
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The 2019 growing season was one of the best in recent memory. Even with all the rain in the spring and the drought in the summer our agronomy team continued to provide excellent conditions for our golfers and guests. One of the changes in our cultural practices that we began a few years ago and is really starting to pay dividends is the application of our topdressing sand using push broadcast spreaders instead of the vehicle mounted spinner style we used to use. This practice has allowed us to apply the proper amount of sand needed by our greens without affecting the play of the greens and has been widely received by our golfers as an excellent practice.<br />
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<a href="http://wearegolf.org/national-golf-day/">National Golf Day</a> was a new venture for me this year as I joined with hundreds of other golf industry professionals from around the country in Washington DC for two days to promote the benefits of golf. Representatives from GCSAA, PGA, USGA, Club Managers Association, Golf Course Architects, Golf Course Builders, Golf Course Owners and many other associations came together to give back to our nation through a Community Service Project where we performed landscape and turfgrass renovation projects, planted flowers, and made irrigation repairs on the National Mall. The work performed was recognized by the National Park Service as the <a href="http://wearegolf.org/industry-news/national-park-service-recognizes-golf-industry-as-group-volunteer-of-the-year/">Outstanding Group Volunteer Service Project</a> of the year. On the second day we divided and conquered Capitol Hill as representatives from each state met with members of Congress to promote the benefits of the game of golf. I, along with Brad Marcy, GCS at Indian Hills GC in Murfreesboro and Michael Seabrook, GM, at Belle Meade CC in Nashville had the pleasure of speaking with Senators Alexander and Blackburn and Congressmen Desjarlais, Fleischmann, and Cooper. It was a great experience and I look forward to returning in May for National Golf Day 2020.<br />
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Summer closure for aerification went perfectly this year as our staff was able to perform the needed cultural practices to the course. We were able to perform core aerification to the greens in multiple directions removing organic matter, relieving compaction, and allowing for increased oxygen exchange. Aerification is always one of the practices that is frowned upon by most all golfers but I think, or at least I hope, we have shown over the years that by performing these practices in the time and manner we do that we can provide the high quality putting surfaces our golfers and guests demand with only a limited disturbance in the golfing season.<br />
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We were able to make a few improvements or renovations to the course this year but mostly spent our time maintaining and conditioning the course for play. Projects such as crosstie curbing, protective matting on the bridges for our walking guests, sod work at parking areas were among the projects we completed but the project we enjoyed the most, and was appreciated by the golfers the most, was the bunker renovation project on #13 fairway. This bunker had been an eyesore for many years and could not be kept in playing condition due to the direct inflow of water which contaminated the sand. That situation was remedied and we now have a nice looking and great functioning bunker.<br />
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Our environmental programs are still one of the best parts of our golf course and this year was no different. We had a new female in our Harrison Bay Eagle Cam nest which was given the name Athena. She and Elliott fledged two more eaglets into the wild. Our cameras experienced issues again this year so we didn't get to see them hatch and grow up but we are working on the system for this year and should be up and running in time for us all to enjoy this years brood. The course continues to be a haven for deer, turkey, raccoons, all manner of small woodland creatures and a plethora of birds and insects. When people ask me what the best part of my job is, seeing the wildlife live and thrive in partnership with all the activities on the golf course is the first and easiest answer for me.<br />
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As all good things have to come to an end, Bill Greene retired from service to the golf course this fall. Bill has been instrumental in maintaining the golf course for many years, and although he did a great job at that, his biggest contribution to the course was his ability, and willingness, to work on many of our environmental projects such as the <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2013/02/mallard-duck-nesting-tubes-revised.html">mallard duck nesting tubes</a>, the <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2017/03/spring-cleaning-for-wood-duck-boxes.html">wood duck nesting boxes</a>, deer and turkey feeders, and the <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2018/05/bobwhite-quail-chicks-are-busting-out.html">Bobwhite quail restoration project</a>. Bill also used his carpentry skills to provide many of the course accessories our golfers enjoy on a daily basis, along with helping with the new <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2017/04/front-entrance-facelift-part-2.html">front entrance sign</a> and <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2018/02/fence-renovation-project-2018.html">wood fencing</a> which greets our guests. Enjoy your second retirement and your new home, Bill.<br />
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As we look back to 2019, the successes of the golf course and the enjoyment our golfers and guests enjoy would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the agronomy staff. They are a small group but one that is determined to provide the best possible conditions we can provide no matter how much rain we receive or how hot it is. I am very grateful for this group and especially for the leadership Willie Hamby has shown in running the many day to day operations of the course.<br />
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Thank you to everyone who played or visited our course this year. We hope you enjoyed your time on the course as much as we do every day and we hope to see you in 2020. We have some cool projects we are hoping to complete this winter, so come back and see us, and I will do my best to update the blog more regularly in 2020.<br />
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Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-85159128329806825582019-02-15T17:08:00.000-05:002019-02-15T17:08:20.777-05:00Engaging Young Golfers with Landseer Communication Activity Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week we received our order of activity books from Landseer Communications and we could not be happier. We have been looking for some time for a way to engage younger golfers/people to the beauty and environmental stewardship opportunities that can be found on a golf course. The activity books are extremely high quality with great illustrations and descriptions of the wildlife and projects that can be found at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. Simple and to the point these books will provide a guide or reference to the wildlife, birds, insects, and activities that can be found on our golf course.<br />
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One of the features in the activity books was a tribute to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=6820758291107170656;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=14;src=postname">Eloise</a>, our first female eagle that we lost last year. This feature is a great way to highlight all the excitement and fun we had watching her and Elliott build their nest, raise their family, and bring a great deal of publicity and fame to our golf course. It was heartbreaking to loose her as we did but she will be remembered by many for years to come through these books.<br />
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Another page area that we chose to feature is our <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=1528594070726084846;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=8;src=postname">Bobwhite quail</a> restoration project which has turned out quite nice. The quail are hard to see, as they are very elusive and don't like to be around people, but if you sit still out near #5 tee complex where they were released you might get lucky and hear them calling to each other. <br />
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There are 16 pages of coloring pages and activities, such as Nature Bingo, in our book which can give a preview of what someone can look for during their round or show off what all they found around the course. The pages are individual and specific to each property with special write-ups to highlight information about the bird, insect, animal, or project. <br />
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Delphine Tseng is the owner of Landseer Communication, the designer and publisher of these great activity books. She has a passion for the environment and getting young people involved in our sport and appreciating all the beauty and activities golf courses have to offer, and her level of enthusiasm can't be matched. I would encourage anyone that wishes to create a fantastic community outreach project to contact Delphine or visit Landseer Communication at <a href="https://www.landseercc.com/">https://www.landseercc.com</a>. <br />
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We will be distributing these activity books to school children during our <a href="http://www.thefirstgreen.org/">The First Green</a> field trips which we will be hosting this spring. If you would like one we have placed a few up at the clubhouse with Robin. <a href="http://friendsofharrisonbay.org/interpretive-center/">The Friends of Harrison Bay State Park</a> also published a book for <a href="https://tnstateparks.com/parks/harrison-bay">Harrison Bay State Park</a> which is available at the Interpretive Center or the A-Frame at the park. If you would like to give a small donation to help offset printing costs that would be much appreciated as well.<br />
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-50166380178555375432019-02-12T21:40:00.000-05:002019-02-12T21:40:13.475-05:002019 Golf Industry Show...A New Journey Embarked<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As we all know the past several months have been some of the wettest in history for our course. We have a lot of projects on the course that we want to accomplish but the weather is keeping us from these goals. So escaping to "sunny" San Diego for the annual <a href="https://www.golfindustryshow.com/">Golf Industry Show</a> seemed like a perfect remedy. The Golf Industry Show is the national conference and trade show for the <a href="https://www.gcsaa.org/">Golf Course Superintendents Association of America</a> and is a great opportunity to learn, network, and energize the batteries for the year to come.<br />
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I would like to thank Mr. Nixon, our Director of Golf, for attending the show with me and his continued support of our industry. The trade show is a great place to look at new products and talk with vendors so we can determine the best equipment and resources to use, not only at Harrison Bay but across all the courses that comprise the Tennessee Golf Trial. We looked at some different bunker liner materials, chemicals and fertilizers, and some new mowing equipment which we hope to be bringing to the Tennessee Golf Trail in the near future to better maintain the grounds and also protect the environment. Just a teaser there but I think you are going to like it.<br />
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One of the best things about the golf industry is that we are all in it together. Education and networking is one of the best things about GIS and this year we had some great education and networking opportunities including the long awaited <a href="https://www.gcmonline.com/course/environment/news/syngenta-business-institute-2018">Syngenta Business Institute</a> reunion, the GCSAA Chapter Presidents breakfast, the Ladies Leading Turf symposium sponsored by Syngenta and organized by Leasha Schwab, a great hypnotist <a href="https://www.rickykalmon.com/">Ricky Kalmon</a>, a fantastic professional development class with Ms. Laura Katen of <a href="http://katenconsulting.com/">Katen Consulting</a>, and a hilarious comedy routine from Sinbad to round out the event during the closing ceremony. I also met some great new friends and was able to catch up with some old friends which makes the golf industry the best in the world, in my humble opinion.<br />
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The highlight of the week, and the reason for "A New Journey Embarked", came on Thursday morning when I was elected to the GCSAA Board of Directors for a two year term. I am pictured with newly elected <a href="https://www.gcsaa.org/media/news-release/2019/02/08/barajas-elected-president">GCSAA President Rafael Barajas</a>, who was elected the 83rd GCSAA President. I have had the honor of serving the members of the turfgrass industry in Tennessee for several years. I am grateful for the honor and opportunity to serve the 18,000+ members of GCSAA worldwide and work with the other great members of the Board of Directors and staff at GCSAA. I greatly appreciate the encouragement of my family, my supervisors in Nashville, and the dedicated staff at Harrison Bay, most especially my assistant Willie Hamby as he will be taking on a greater amount of responsibilities when GCSAA duties call me away.<br />
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I'll wrap this blogpost up with a site I feel we all need and that is of green grass and blue skies. The winter has been a tough one but the sun will eventually come back out, the rain will eventually stop falling everyday, and we will once again be able to prepare the course the way we love to. Keep the faith. It will all be okay in a few.<br />
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-46387166454024375672019-01-30T18:40:00.000-05:002019-01-30T18:40:16.501-05:00Triplets at the HBEC Nest for 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUl0IsPR-FffBxUPme1wp1X0zeAWXK7zGyZd27XRE-a6u3hPsffaXiUoD123zl5xM1PBz_yp7y4LSwv8zjEdTbf7t2ORbWTW-QoPIQJoO58t6hWkYwgLEBceeE4wNkVJczyUVcn8cSGo/s1600/IMG_2881-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1136" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUl0IsPR-FffBxUPme1wp1X0zeAWXK7zGyZd27XRE-a6u3hPsffaXiUoD123zl5xM1PBz_yp7y4LSwv8zjEdTbf7t2ORbWTW-QoPIQJoO58t6hWkYwgLEBceeE4wNkVJczyUVcn8cSGo/s320/IMG_2881-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The Harrison Bay Eagle Cam project has been a source of great joy and of sadness. Last year we lost our original female Eloise (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=6820758291107170656;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=11;src=postname">Remembering Eloise</a>) leaving the nest empty for a while. Throughout the spring three females tried to claim the nest and the handsome and dashing Elliott as their own, but it was not until our new female came along that a new HBEC queen could be crowned.<br />
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Our new queen of the nest has been named Athena and has taken over right where Eloise left off. She has many of the same traits or characteristics that made us all fall in love with Eloise such as having a prominent brow which gives her a fierce look, to keeping airspace near the nest clear of any other females trying to stake their claim on her nest or her "man", to making sure Elliott knows exactly where the nesting material goes, no matter where he thinks it should.<br />
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On Tuesday afternoon 1/22/19 a little after 4:00 PM Athena laid her first egg at the Harrison Bay nest. As with any eagle in the wild it is virtually impossible to know if this is her first egg every laid but she did struggle a bit which lead our expert moderators to speculate that it was.<br />
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Here is a video from our moderator Suzie-O which shows the laying process of egg #1</div>
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On Friday afternoon Athena laid her second egg which seemed to be a little easier on her. Both her and Elliott have, and will, take turns caring for the eggs as they keep them warm and turn the eggs periodically to keep the embryo from sticking to the insides of the egg. It is delicate process that makes many of use worry but we have to trust that the eagles know exactly what they are doing.<br />
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Well much to our surprise on Monday evening we were graced with a third egg from Athena. Three eggs in a single nest is not completely uncommon but is rare and since the nest was constructed in the fall of 2010 Eloise had only ever laid two eggs at a single time. We are very thrilled and excited about the opportunity to witness three eaglets being raised but it will also increase the need for food, shelter from the elements, and the inevitable sibling rivalries and bonking which will make all viewers uneasy and is the leading cause to hatchling death in a multiple egg nest.<br />
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As always we welcome everyone to join us in viewing the Harrison Bay Eagle Cam project at<br />
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<a href="http://friendsofharrisonbay.org/eagle-cam/">Harrison Bay Eagle Cam</a></div>
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We are still buttoning up some technical issues which will make the experience even better throughout the year.<br />
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We would like to thank our great moderators who operate the site and the cameras and keep all the chatters informed and in line.<br />
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We would also like to thank <a href="https://www.golfcourseindustry.com/">Golf Course Industry magazine</a>, <a href="https://aquatrols.com/">Aquatrols</a>, and <a href="http://www.syngenta-us.com/home.aspx">Syngenta US</a> for their sponsorship of the project this year. Without financial support from our friends this view into the life of a bald eagle nest would not be possible.Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-32545477932077680472019-01-28T18:54:00.000-05:002019-01-28T18:54:41.136-05:002018 Recap, Bridge Refurbishments, and Covering Greens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U_yt93s0bfSBgCBe2iT3mai1d7GfblD8QJlC_Rp9P6XkTJ3G3dqTFNrzPMEAlsoIT7-ic35svF_PxDe3NEmmM_0zSlI4Gi6cY8i4fPUIayfq-bGV73O04Nrxehuz-DFTDNYgq0HiFxQ/s1600/IMG_6604.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6U_yt93s0bfSBgCBe2iT3mai1d7GfblD8QJlC_Rp9P6XkTJ3G3dqTFNrzPMEAlsoIT7-ic35svF_PxDe3NEmmM_0zSlI4Gi6cY8i4fPUIayfq-bGV73O04Nrxehuz-DFTDNYgq0HiFxQ/s320/IMG_6604.heic" width="320" /></a></div>
Yes, it has been quite a while since our last blogpost update and for that I apologize. 2018 was a great year at Harrison Bay with some of the best course conditions our Agronomy Staff has produced in quite some time. Irregardless of the 83 inches of rainfall we received in 2018 (normal amount is 57") our small crew of dedicated team members continued to provide quality, championship conditions while continuing to make course improvements and advances. <br />
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One of the improvements we have been working on this winter is to repair and cleanup the bridges which span our wetland areas on holes 13 and 14. We have removed and replaced any rotting or weak boards from the decking, have begun the process of pressure washing the bridge, and have installed a woven rubber liner in the center of the bridge to make it safer for our walking guests to travel across the bridge.<br />
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The walkway material is from <a href="https://www.pemsurface.com/high-traffic-slip-resistant-matting.html">PEM Surface</a> and is an excellent product providing a porous, nonslip surface which is easily secured to the decking with silicone glue and decking screws. We have already had several of our regular walking golfers comment and thank us for this project. We will finish the project up this month and seal the bridge to help keep this clean, fresh look.<br />
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With the cold temperatures heading into the south this week we pulled the covers over the greens today to help protect them. We do not cover as much as others, and that is perfectly fine. No two golf courses are the same and no two golf course superintendents do the exact same processes. We have 15 years of experience with what our greens can handle and our microclimate on the lake gives us a little advantage of staying warmer than other areas in town. <br />
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I was asked today "How do the covers actually help protect the greens?". The illustration to the right does a very good job of describing how the greens covers work but in a nutshell the covers are designed to allow radiant heat from the sun to pass through the cover but not back out easily. The sunlight warms the leaf tissue and the soil and "traps" the heat against the surface compared to uncovered greens in which the collected heat of the day is easily lost and the surface and soil temperature of the green is allowed to fall to levels detrimental to the health of the plant, and in turn the longterm health of the green.<br />
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I hope this helps explain why there are times, like today, when we have to pull the covers during the day when the sun is out and it is all nice and warm and you would love to be out playing golf. In our experience if we wait too late and pull the covers at the end of the day we are losing a complete day of heat generation and capture and undermining the benefit of the covers. <br />
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It is our plan to remove the covers at the end of the week and have the course ready for play for the weekend. We will update as we get closer to the weekend.<br />
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Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-73817308657673745402018-08-09T22:19:00.000-04:002018-08-09T22:19:34.877-04:00Aerification 2018--A Week to Remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Aerification week was last week as many of you know but it did not go as we had hoped. The agronomy staff worked tirelessly on Monday and Tuesday to get the greens aerified and started on some the other projects due to the forecasted rainfall for Wednesday and Thursday. It was a good thing we did because both of those days were a complete wash with the course receiving 3.41" of rain during that time. It is hard to collect cores and spread sand in the rain, as we found out. One last day, Friday, to get the course back together and the staff knocked it out of the park once again to get us open on time Saturday morning.<br />
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I know the word "aerification" is a four letter word for most all golfers but it is simply one of those necessary evils in the golf world. The process removes old plant and thatch which have accumulated through time, relieves compaction of the soil, provides new points for gas exchange between the root system and the atmosphere, letting the toxic gases out and fresh oxygen in, and allows for new materials such as sand or other amendments to be added to the soil system. In a nutshell, you wouldn't dream of driving your car 100,000 miles without changing the oil and expecting it to survive. We are simply changing the oil.<br />
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Most of the aerification process was the same this year as last but we did change a few techniques and add a couple of practices so I thought a new video would help explain the process.<br />
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The agronomy staff put forth a Herculean effort last week to get everything done that we did. The rain we received really messed up our scheduled activities but we made it through. We did not get all the cultural practices we wanted done, such as core aerification of tees and topdressing of approaches, and will continue to work on the list over the next couple of weeks. The greens are done and are healing in nicely so we look forward to welcoming everyone back out to enjoy the course.Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-39037553408936567382018-07-27T17:25:00.000-04:002018-07-27T17:25:52.285-04:00Using Smart Guided Sprayer GPS System Technology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Applying fertilizers, pesticides, wetting agents, and other plant protective products to golf courses is simply one of those tasks that has to be performed to provide the healthy, quality conditions demanded by today's golfers. Golf course superintendents are always looking for ways to reduce the need to spray, to find ways to more accurately apply the products to ensure they are being applied where they are intended, and to reduce expenses and use of natural resources.<br />
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On a typical sprayer used on tees, approaches, and/or fairways, eleven nozzles are combined into three "sections" or "booms". Four nozzles on the right, three nozzles in the center, and four nozzles on the left. The down fall to this system is that when one of the nozzles on the right boom needs to spray, all four of the nozzles spray. This results in overspray of product outside of the desired area which wastes products and water. It can also cause harm to turf which might be sensitive to the product being applied on one area. <br />
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One of the best assets that has come along for golf course superintendents in a long time is individual nozzle control made possible by the integration of GPS technology on to the sprayer. Earlier this season we were able to purchase the <a href="https://www.smartguided.com/">Smart Guided System GPS sprayer</a> control system for our greens sprayer. This system allows us to map the different areas on our course such as greens, approaches, fairways, and with the individual nozzle control apply the fertilizers and chemicals within 2" of exactly where we want them. <br />
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This technology has been a complete game changer for us. By being able to apply the products only to the greens surface and not having to account for overspray with a non individual nozzle control system we have reduced our square footage sprayed on our greens from 130,000 square feet to 98,000 square feet. This has resulted in a reduction of products and water used by over 23%. Our approaches have seen even bigger savings with over 33% reduction in products and water needed since we control which individual nozzles spray and which ones do not.<br />
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Here is a video of an application of product to #18 green at Harrison Bay. As you watch it you can see the individual nozzles (indicated by the 1-11 circles at the top) turning on and off as needed and as they enter and exit the boundary of the greens surface which is outlined in green. I have our greens set up to spray 6" outside of the actual boundary of the green so you will see a little activation outside of the green but it can be dialed in to spray any area we choose. The video pixelated a little during recording leaving a couple gaps but all the area was sprayed. <br />
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Here is an example of an application of product to #15 approach at Harrison Bay. Again as you watch the video you can see the individual nozzles turning on and off. The approach is outlined in green and the golf green is considered an "obstacle" and will not have any product applied to it. We can spray these narrow areas between the green and the bunkers without fear of spraying products on the greens or overspraying the area as the Smart Guided System will turn on only one nozzle at a time if that is needed.<br />
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Set up of the Smart Guided System was easy and with the mapping attachment we chose to use, which mounts to the front of the sprayer, we can drive around our course mapping all the sites or areas we want to record. It is a simple process to record the areas and they are saved in the "cloud"<br />
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We have looked at several different GPS sprayer control systems and decided on Smart Guided Systems due to ease of use, the ability to adapt to our existing sprayer, and the very economical price compared to other GPS systems on the market today.<br />
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Whether it is the Smart Guided System, or another manufacturer of GPS sprayer control, reducing the amount of products used, the water needed to make each application, and the ability to greater protect the environment and non-target areas from over application of chemicals is here and very accessible to most every golf course. The savings we are seeing in products used compared to previous years will allow us to pay for this system in one season and provide better playing conditions for our golfers and guests.Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-47862470847449936062018-06-27T19:52:00.000-04:002018-06-27T19:52:12.342-04:00Soft Tees, Smooth Paths, and Short Skirts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been a great year at The Bay so far this year. We had a sluggish start due to the harsh, prolonged winter weather that stretched into the spring but the course has rebounded in championship fashion. The agronomy staff has been hard at work giving the course some extra TLC by aerifying weak areas, sodding areas that needed a quick recovery, and applying extra fertilizer and growth stimulants to the course. We have also had some special projects going on that are making a huge impact on the playability and look of the course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVO6NtK-xJ3sSkizh9tUCX_45tBHd1K9Z-2pu3vQK400J9aEcv7In_0W_dumd07kMsDrHEEerpPgO-hnQMoIdc8cqymqXyrV64HwhHZd0anxgXSNaASm7V3Rla_sR-CNHL6Ns7Oc_lZ4/s1600/IMG_4628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVO6NtK-xJ3sSkizh9tUCX_45tBHd1K9Z-2pu3vQK400J9aEcv7In_0W_dumd07kMsDrHEEerpPgO-hnQMoIdc8cqymqXyrV64HwhHZd0anxgXSNaASm7V3Rla_sR-CNHL6Ns7Oc_lZ4/s320/IMG_4628.JPG" width="240" /></a><b><u>Deep Tine Aerification of Tees:</u></b> Our tee boxes are notorious for firming up during the hot summer months, so firm that it is difficult to get a tee in the ground. This is due to the native clay soil they are constructed from with little to no sand base or incorporation of sand to help them stay soft and user friendly. We have tried over the years to use our greens aerifier to cultivate the tee surfaces, removing cores and trying to work sand into the holes to help this issue. The success has been very limited because our greens aerifier is designed for the soft features of the greens and not the hard clay base of the tee complexes. So in order to remedy this issue we purchased a used Wiedenmann Terra Spike XP deep tine aerifier. With this powerful machine we are able to use tines that penetrate deep into the soil surface to aerate the soil. This time around we are using 3/4" solid tines that are 11 inches long on a 4" x 4" spacing allowing 8 inches of this tine will penetrate the surface.<br />
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<b><u>Smoother Cart Paths Courtesy of Flatpaths:</u></b> You may have noticed that the ride around the course is much smoother in areas and some of the bumps in the cart paths no longer exist. That is courtesy of Jim from <a href="https://flatpaths.com/">Flatpaths</a>, a company we contracted to grind back down areas of the cart paths where tree roots have buckled them up. Jim did a great job and we hope to have him back out to finish the course the next time he is in the area. This process was very quick, with limited debris, and was much, much more economical and less disruptive to the course compared to removing or resurfacing the cart paths throughout the course.<br />
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<u><b>Native Grass Area Renovation:</b></u> We are very proud of our native grass areas on our course as they provide movement corridors and nesting/brooding habitats for the residents, help eliminate runoff contamination from the short turfgrass before reaching the waterways, and gives defined definition to the golf holes. As with most things in life there comes a time when some renovation has to occur and for our native grass areas that time is now. We usually only have to do this process every 3-4 years and it is a good thing because with close to 100 acres of low maintenance areas it takes quite some time.<br />
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The course looks quite different with her skirt down and there are many golf balls which have gone astray from their intended target that are getting a second chance at life, but the best part of the renovation project is this is the best time to disperse the seed from the native grasses that are present in these areas. We want a variety of plant species in our native grass areas, not a monostand, as this improves the diversity of wildlife that can call the golf course home, gives different food sources at different times of the year, and looks more natural. Bill is working hard to stay out of everyones way and get this project done. The areas will be back to their glory in no time and we ask that you continue to obey the standing cart rule and not enter these areas with your cart.<br />
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We hope you have had a great year so far and we look forward to seeing you on the course. </div>
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-15285940707260848462018-05-18T19:20:00.000-04:002018-05-18T20:06:28.853-04:00Bobwhite Quail Chicks are Busting Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have done a lot of environmental projects at Harrison Bay over the years but our Bobwhite Quail Restoration project has turned out to be one of the most fun, and it culminated today in the release of the chicks from their brooding chamber. The project started back in April and you can review its beginning here <a href="http://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2018/04/southern-bobwhite-quail-restoration.html">Southern Bobwhite Quail Restoration project</a>. We have had the chicks for 36 days and they have been in the brooding chamber for the past 24 days. Today they were released to fly free.<br />
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The chicks started out about the size of a golf ball, if that, and have grown considerably in size over these last 36 days. They have gained about four to five times their size and have grown in their flight feathers so it was time to let them loose into their new environment. Our project started with 125 Bobwhite quail chicks and as of today 86 have survived and are thriving. According to Bill the survival rate of most quail clutches is between 12-15% so our 68.8% survival rate is incredible.<br />
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Bobwhite Quail Restoration Project at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. </div>
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(Videos are courtesy of Willie Hamby. Photos by Paul Carter)</div>
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The release party was one of the coolest things I have experienced in quite some time. To see the quail chicks take flight and/or strut around in the native grass areas was entertaining, inspiring, and gave us all a sense of satisfaction that the project had turned out so successful.<br />
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The project is far from over and we have more in store but it makes me think back to a classic episode of The Andy Griffith Show <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=andy+griffith+opie+the+birdman&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">"Opie the Birdman"</a> (Season 4, Episode 1) and a saying comes to mind.<br />
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The box seems sort of empty now...</div>
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but don't the fields sound nice and full.</div>
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Again we can't thank Bill Greene enough for his dedication and passion for our environmental programs. The Bobwhite quail restoration project has been fun to implement. We are proud to have a golf course with the natural habitat specially suited for these birds and we can't wait to watch them grow up and begin raising their own families on the course. This group of birds should lay their first clutch of eggs toward the middle of July and will hopefully over the years cover the course.</div>
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If you are interested in introducing Bobwhite quail onto your golf course and if we can help in any way please contact us and we will be happy to put you in touch with the quail breeder, let you borrow the brooding chamber, or answer any questions we can.<br />
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Welcome to The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay </div>
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Mr. and Mrs. Bobwhite Quail. </div>
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We hope you enjoy your new home for many years to come.</div>
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-50199013336658703272018-05-08T19:45:00.000-04:002018-05-08T19:45:16.194-04:00Hello Spring. Nice of You to Show Up...FINALLY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a winter that seemed that it would never end, the sun is finally out and shining, and the course is coming back into shape, albeit about a month later than we are used to. The extended cold temperatures and excessive rainfall that we experienced in the months of March and April delayed the green up of the bermudagrass and have caused the delay in some of our maintenance practices that we would normally have performed by now. <br />
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The delay in the normal springtime temperatures has caused delays in the green up of a few areas on the course and we have been asked about these, why they occurred, what we could do about them, and how long will they be this way. Dr. Jim Brosnan, Associate Professor University of Tennessee, recently wrote an article about the delayed greenup that we are experiencing in the transition zone and I thought I would pass along his excellent explanation.</div>
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<a href="https://medium.com/@UTTurfWeeds/a-sluggish-start-for-bermudagrass-in-2018-a3ab2af1a6f4">A Sluggish Start for Bermudagrass in 2018</a></div>
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To be honest a few weeks ago, as I examined the golf course, I was fearful we would have to sod several areas on the course. Since the weather has taken a turn for the better in the past week, with full days of warm sun and little to no rain, the turfgrass has also taken a turn, and one for the better. We are seeing substantial growth and recovery in these areas and will be doing a few cultural practices over the next few weeks to help the turf along. The first practice, which started this morning will be to vertical mow the weak areas to remove any crusting of thatch and algae and expose the underlying turfgrass to the warmth and benefit of the sun.<br />
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The next practice will be to use our Aerway shattertine slicer to solid tine aerify the weak areas to allow a void for any water that falls or is applied to be removed from the surface as to not drown the new plants as they grow or allow any algae to reform and to allow oxygen into the soil to promote root growth and recovery. We will follow the solid tine venting with mowing of the fairways to smooth out the surface. Following this we will apply some extra fertility to these areas to give them a little boost.<br />
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Your agronomy staff has worked very hard over the years to provide the high quality conditions that you have come to expect. We understand questions arise when things look out of place and we will do everything we can to answer those questions and concerns. The golf course is quickly coming back to form, now that Spring has finally decided to show up, and we are confident these weak areas will be filled in shortly. As always if you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the course or any practices we perform on the course please don't hesitate to let us know. We will do our best to answer them.Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-62565087827181156892018-04-26T12:05:00.000-04:002018-04-26T12:05:34.919-04:00Rounds 4 Research Auction 2018--Support the Game You Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The annual <a href="http://www.eifg.org/research/rounds-4-research">Rounds 4 Research</a> auction kicks off on Monday, April 30 and runs through May 6. The R4R auction is a great way for golfers to help support turfgrass research by purchasing donated rounds to some of the nations best and some of your favorite courses, and some courses that you might not be able to play on a daily basis. The Rounds 4 Research program is the brainchild of the <a href="http://www.carolinasgcsa.org/">Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association</a> where they helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support research and education. The program was moved a couple of years ago to the <a href="https://www.gcsaa.org/">GCSAA</a> <a href="http://www.eifg.org/">Environmental Institute for Golf</a> which administers the program and allows other states throughout the nation to benefit from this amazing program as well.<br />
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The program works by courses donating rounds of golf which are then listed at <a href="https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?auctionId=290872030">www.biddingforgood.com</a> and are available for preview now, with the actual auction beginning Monday, April 30. Interested golfers can then go to the auction website and bid on rounds from courses all over the nation.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.tgcsa.net/index.html">Tennessee GCSA</a> has worked hard to gather a great collection of over 100 rounds from courses throughout Tennessee and some surrounding states for this year's auction. <a href="http://www.tngolftrail.net/beartrace/harrisonbay/">The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay</a> is proud to be participating in the Rounds 4 Research auction this year, along with the other 8 courses that make up the <a href="http://www.tngolftrail.net/">Tennessee Golf Trail</a>. Tennessee golf courses participating in the program this year can be found at <a href="https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=290872030&categoryId=290840263">Tennessee Rounds 4 Research Available Golf Courses</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;">Research results being presented at UT Turf Field Day</td></tr>
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<u>Who benefits from funds raised from Rounds 4 Research? </u>Well, ultimately you, the golfer, benefits. All the proceeds raised from the R4R auction, at least in Tennessee, go to support turfgrass research, like that performed at <a href="https://ag.tennessee.edu/Pages/default.aspx">The University of Tennessee-Institute of Agriculture</a>, help to provide scholarships to the upcoming next generation of turfgrass manager, and provide education for current golf course superintendents and turf managers at local association meetings and special events like the UT Turfgrass and Ornamental Field Day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtkAqX5FGDEUJ32JgSiZONJXpyliOQUl2eokZ5DXhlvuOVuG9SlrGUESSvBdqurqbVHg4Mt-LLTwlCBKtv9ntZvMl-JrGJetf7Ww7gfa0aqsyi32Y4Q2iasYrAXd-aKaBTOR0dHx0Oko/s1600/preview-now-rounds-4-research-450x315-v2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="450" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtkAqX5FGDEUJ32JgSiZONJXpyliOQUl2eokZ5DXhlvuOVuG9SlrGUESSvBdqurqbVHg4Mt-LLTwlCBKtv9ntZvMl-JrGJetf7Ww7gfa0aqsyi32Y4Q2iasYrAXd-aKaBTOR0dHx0Oko/s320/preview-now-rounds-4-research-450x315-v2.png" width="320" /></a>A lot of golfers get excited about the Masters Tournament and with good reason, but <u><b>ALL </b></u>golfers should get excited about the Rounds 4 Research program. I encourage every golfer that reads this blog to visit www.Rounds4Research.com and preview the over 1,100 rounds across the nation available this year and be ready to start bidding tomorrow morning. This is a special opportunity for golfers all across America to help support turfgrass research and education, and play some of the best courses available at some very special pricing.<br />
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<b> <a href="https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=rounds4research">Rounds 4 Research</a> </b></h3>
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this week and bid on amazing rounds at amazing courses and help do your part to provide the much needed funding for turfgrass research, scholarships, and education. </div>
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We all win through this great program. </div>
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<u><b>We have done our part in gathering these rounds for the auction</b></u></div>
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<u><b>---now do your part and get to bidding!!!</b></u></div>
Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-88657025296188779702018-04-22T05:34:00.000-04:002018-04-22T05:34:02.564-04:00Southern Bobwhite Quail Restoration Project--Earth Day 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every day is Earth Day on a golf course and especially at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. Each year we try to determine an environmental or wildlife habitat need on our course and design a project or program to try and address this need. For decades the habitat for the Southern Bobwhite Quail has been in constant decline. This decline is caused by many issues. As smaller farms, pasturelands, and grass-woodline areas have disappeared in favor of larger open farms and sprawling neighborhoods the habitat for these small game birds is becoming scarce.<br />
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Over the years we have drastically reduced the highly maintained turfgrass acreage on our course allowing these areas to return to a natural grassy stage. These areas are perfect habitat for these small birds as they are small in size and close to water and wooded cover. The project for this year was designed and carried out by Bill Greene. Bill, an avid hunter and outdoorsman throughout his life, has a passion for wildlife conservation. After some detailed research Bill started constructing a brooding chamber to hold the quail chicks until they are large enough to be released. The chamber is 3'x8' and 12" tall with feed towers and a watering system installed.<br />
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Feed and grit will be placed in the feed towers and water placed in the watering barrel. This supply of food and water will be enough to keep them for the 33 days then need to stay in the brooding chamber before being released into the wild. 1/4" wire mesh was installed in the front half of the brooding chamber with the back half of the chamber solid to allow the chicks an area to get out of any harsh sun, wind, or rain. <br />
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A layer of pine shavings are placed in the bottom of the chamber and the chicks released into the chamber. As you can see in the picture, the chicks, which Bill is holding in his hands, are very small and quite fragile at this young age. It will take close to a month for them to become strong and big enough to release into their new habitat. <br />
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Our plan was to have the chicks out in the brooding chamber long before this time. The unpredictable weather that has kept the south in what seems like a never ending winter has changed those plans. Since the chicks are so small and fragile and the weather keeps fluctuating so much we have decided to keep the chick in a nesting area at the maintenance building under a heat light and with food and water until the weather regulates. This will give them some extra time to grow and be ready to be placed in "the wild".<br />
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We are blessed to have employees like Bill Greene at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. Not only does he assist in maintaining the golf course grounds everyday but has taken a personal interest in the environmental projects and programs we have in place. Bill took the time to research the needs of the quail, to speak with his uncle who raises Bobwhite quail and to secure the donation of the game birds to our project. If you see Bill out on the course (he will be the tall guy almost always wearing something promoting the Georgia Bulldogs) stop and speak with him and learn about the Bobwhite quail restoration project and say thanks to him for his commitment to the environment, our wildlife habitat programs, and to the golf course.<br />
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We are very lucky to be able to come to work on a golf course everyday, and even more for that golf course to be The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. Golf courses provide land that can be used in many ways. For the golfers (humans) it provides a great place for exercise, stress release, and fellowship with friends and family. For the wildlife and birds the golf course provides a home, a place where they can move and live and raise their families. <br />
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We hope that each of you have a fantastic Earth Day this year and remember that every day should be considered Earth Day. Please do you part while on the golf course by keeping vehicles out of native grass areas, placing trash and cigarette butts where they are designed to go, and stopping from time to time and simply enjoying the wonderful sights and sounds of the course.<br />
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Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-86054589811066332002018-02-23T22:35:00.000-05:002018-02-23T22:35:38.610-05:00Aquatrols Conservation Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this month our course was awarded the inaugural Aquatrols Conservation Award for the wildlife habitat management programs we have undertaken over the years on the golf course. We are very grateful to <a href="http://aquatrols.com/">Aquatrols</a> for this award and for the recognition of our environmental stewardship projects. It is our belief that golf course management and environmental stewardship go hand in hand and in all honesty it just makes the job more fun and interesting.<br />
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I would like to thank Mr. Steve Fasano of Aquatrols for being so gracious in his comments and his time in presenting us with the Conservation Award. Each year Aquatrols sponsors the Golf Course Industry magazine Super Social Media Awards at the annual Golf Industry Show. The Super Social Media awards are presented to golf courses for their use of twitter, blogs, videos, and other forms of media which get the word out of all the great work being done on their course.<br />
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Whether it is our <a href="http://www.harrisonbayeaglecam.org/">Harrison Bay Eagle Cam</a> project or our <a href="http://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2012/01/building-mallard-duck-nesting-tubes.html">Mallard Duck Nesting Tubes</a> or our <a href="http://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2012/05/revised-turkey-feeders.html">Wild Turkey Feeders</a> or our <a href="http://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2017/03/spring-cleaning-for-wood-duck-boxes.html">wood duck boxes</a> or <a href="http://www.turfnet.com/turfnet-tv.html/_/tips">Establishing Native Grass Areas</a> they are all done to enhance the golf course, to provide nesting and brooding areas and to help promote the fact that golf courses can be, and are, safe and suitable habitats for a multitude of birds and wildlife. <br />
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It has been a busy winter with many improvements made to the course and we are ready to get going with the growing season. It seems quite early but Spring has sprung at Harrison Bay with the trees blooming and the greens coming out of dormancy. We hope this is the start to a great golfing season for all and we hope all will come out and enjoy the great weather and all the hard work that we will be putting into the course.Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-20811077059813452562018-02-15T19:44:00.001-05:002018-02-15T19:44:50.888-05:00Fence Renovation Project 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last year we began working on improving the overall appearance of our golf course when we renovated the front sign on Harrison Bay Road. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=4887723431133881693;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=16;src=postname">Front Entrance Face Lift Part 1</a> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=6961249402415252329;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=13;src=postname">and Part 2</a> This year in continuing the work to make your experience even better we chose to renovate the old split rail fencing along the front entry road, surrounding the main parking lot, and along the back of the native planting bed which runs along #1 tee. <br />
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The project was a fun and exciting one that allowed us to hone old skills and tap into new talents some of us didn't know we had. We began the project on January 22 and finished up today, February 15th. In total we installed 249 4"x6" pressure treated posts with 2' buried in the ground. We drilled and screwed in 2,304 3" galvanized bolts into 532 2"x6" pressure treated rails for a total of 4,256 linear feet of fencing. Yes we counted it all. 😁<br />
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Here is a video we put together of the project. Hope you like it.</div>
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Special thanks go to Bill Greene, Willie Hamby and Shane Shelton for their commitment and hard work on this project. If you like the finished product and see them on the course let them know. They suffered a few cuts and splinters along the way to make this project such a success.</div>
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Spring is just around the corner and we can't wait to get everyone back out on the links and enjoying the course that we all love caring for so much. See you out there soon.</div>
<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-68207582911071706562018-01-15T17:55:00.000-05:002018-01-15T17:55:38.213-05:00Remembering Eloise--The First Lady of HBEC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Eloise, the original female bald eagle at the Harrison Bay Eagle Cam project. She was spotted on the nest cam Saturday with an injury under her right wing. On Sunday Harrison Bay State Park rangers responded to a local land owner reporting an eagle in distress. She was captured and taken to the University of Tennessee Veterinary College for treatment but did not survive her injuries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ62Jr19zy31wlnlDkvv1a9HUooWCH7zdlxD2lbiK9OsFQUhL-m_paMisM2KtKw6fUEe4t6SlWZhbd6CEVHnjWoIwVx1_wVy30epDOhE__Z2f4veLPFJ-s2agGYQqRUXaBpS9rjr6K5jg/s1600/IMG_4216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="712" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ62Jr19zy31wlnlDkvv1a9HUooWCH7zdlxD2lbiK9OsFQUhL-m_paMisM2KtKw6fUEe4t6SlWZhbd6CEVHnjWoIwVx1_wVy30epDOhE__Z2f4veLPFJ-s2agGYQqRUXaBpS9rjr6K5jg/s320/IMG_4216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We have, as viewers of HBEC, had the distinct pleasure of watching her care for her nest and territory. From watching her direct her mate Elliott as to where each and every stick should be placed around the nest perimeter to carefully and delicately rolling her eggs and feeding her chicks without the slightest chance of injury to them with her razor sharp beak or talons to protecting her nest from predators or other eagles that would like to take over, it has been a true gift to witness this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcllMybikf1cylQzPj4uY0zV89qIElylNlAs-HmDJOYFYPuQV7c71DPgeEejlgRYOeNb7OBusIyv7dozE1MYlvov0kGmLGSMRxd_89e7n70e6jf-qseMT5lftguZCpba92mIJhAfM3fRE/s1600/IMG_9323.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcllMybikf1cylQzPj4uY0zV89qIElylNlAs-HmDJOYFYPuQV7c71DPgeEejlgRYOeNb7OBusIyv7dozE1MYlvov0kGmLGSMRxd_89e7n70e6jf-qseMT5lftguZCpba92mIJhAfM3fRE/s320/IMG_9323.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
Since 2010 Eloise has laid 12 eggs of which 10 successfully hatched and fledged from our nest to take to the skies and fly free. Along that path we have had several close calls or frights including the premature branching and fledging of HB5 which lead to a capture and rehabilitation stint at the <a href="https://www.eagles.org/">American Eagle Foundation</a> before being released back at the golf course. <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2014/06/hb5-flies-free-again.html">HB5 Flies Free Again</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uUu0-A-4qooIsvEje2xeUemoYtmfPVK7xX-XAZeAJRJi83z4ghF70aaP5wH8gNeqyW82dMO0revu9Jbq6hAduYX2nzXYWG-bMftk_4mVVL5ElYhqrwrIgfqZf7RB9mWvWuromScKPGs/s1600/2015-02-20+19.45.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uUu0-A-4qooIsvEje2xeUemoYtmfPVK7xX-XAZeAJRJi83z4ghF70aaP5wH8gNeqyW82dMO0revu9Jbq6hAduYX2nzXYWG-bMftk_4mVVL5ElYhqrwrIgfqZf7RB9mWvWuromScKPGs/s320/2015-02-20+19.45.56.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Watching Eloise care for her eaglets was a tremendous honor. There were so many times where she would shelter them from rain and snow and stay awake all night long to make sure they were safe and sound. It has truly been a blessing to get to see this magnificent animal in its natural environment and she will not soon be forgotten.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVsRSfL6iQNBygXfvoJqnZxo9P-f8EuTRdFxfVz_cCxfzI7jktkZWslfL_K7r3YT3j4Tnd0Amb4dBeAln2EhcSVwWQYd5vwTjxd52rmo6kU8dBqNHzL7gkn8M-k3W09xQtnWv7c0VKo0/s1600/IMG_9583.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVsRSfL6iQNBygXfvoJqnZxo9P-f8EuTRdFxfVz_cCxfzI7jktkZWslfL_K7r3YT3j4Tnd0Amb4dBeAln2EhcSVwWQYd5vwTjxd52rmo6kU8dBqNHzL7gkn8M-k3W09xQtnWv7c0VKo0/s320/IMG_9583.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
As many of you may remember Eloise left the nest last year and was replaced by Eliza. Why this happened no one knows and we feared the worst but hoped for the best and we were all thrilled when she returned this year to reclaim her rightful place as the queen of HBEC. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBpblgXAEYrMl38iZpuPicreYb82mHKIOXWAA9OJx48zl1UrWzBGmj1J6V-vZ-3Coi0FX8VOVOvSsGiRbJwfkvF1mwjARpYtWH30eSVThUMpRIP8uuQE1WU8_OuFbmrmz3fXYd4K7i5s/s1600/MG6296-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="832" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBpblgXAEYrMl38iZpuPicreYb82mHKIOXWAA9OJx48zl1UrWzBGmj1J6V-vZ-3Coi0FX8VOVOvSsGiRbJwfkvF1mwjARpYtWH30eSVThUMpRIP8uuQE1WU8_OuFbmrmz3fXYd4K7i5s/s320/MG6296-XL.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Bret Douglas</td></tr>
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Our eagle cam is a glimpse into nature at its rawest form. We have witnessed all the elements that makes life, life. From birth to death, caring to pain, anger to love, all of these elements have been on direct display and many of them hurt. We will miss seeing Eloise "boss" Elliott around about where to place the "furnishings" around the nest, seeing her care for her eaglets in the tender caring way she did, and being taken back by that distinct, heavy browed stare she had.</div>
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The Harrison Bay Eagle Cam (<a href="http://harrisonbayeaglecam.org/">http://harrisonbayeaglecam.org</a>) will continue to function as an educational conduit to allow interested viewers to garner a view of an active bald eagle nest in the wild. Elliott, as his natural instincts tell him to continue his species, has returned to the nest this afternoon with Eliza, the female that took Eloise's place last year. We can only hope for continued success of the nest and for many more eaglets to be fledged in the years to come to fill the skies.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Bret Douglas</td></tr>
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<b>Fly Free Eloise</b></h3>
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<b>We will miss you dearly</b></div>
Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-13925747377556459602017-12-30T22:49:00.002-05:002017-12-30T22:49:46.621-05:00That's a Wrap on 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD1JugUolTLtcpxvpOzAYIeIga_d-19g_VqYjFX6wapuRxEzb1_elp3-ETksLhfigSppfEl67ICI9gRC9iQiegJcCVXrXWEDlrXJqUEP85UQ_JMAPSkcGUzC37DU4ON7BpjM03ot84tc/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD1JugUolTLtcpxvpOzAYIeIga_d-19g_VqYjFX6wapuRxEzb1_elp3-ETksLhfigSppfEl67ICI9gRC9iQiegJcCVXrXWEDlrXJqUEP85UQ_JMAPSkcGUzC37DU4ON7BpjM03ot84tc/s320/IMG_2940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
As we put the greens under the covers to protect them from the freezing weather coming into the Chattanooga area to finish off 2017 we take a look back at what was a fantastic year. We would like to thank all our loyal customers who made the year so successful and all the new comers who gave the golf course a chance, we hope you will all return next year. To the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay staff, THANKS could not begin to express the appreciation we have for all your dedication and hard work.<div>
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There were many renovations or improvements to the golf course this year with the renovation of the front entrance sign kicking the year off. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=4887723431133881693;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=14;src=postname">Front Entrance Face Lift Part 1</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=6961249402415252329;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=11;src=postname">Part 2</a> Other improvements around the course were the new bag racks for the driving range built by Bill Greene, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=6878439650418047188;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=13;src=postname">limbing up of trees and creating walkway paths</a> through the native grass areas, to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=5391746868559231515;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=postname">new fencing around the golf course</a> to replace the old split rail fencing.</div>
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After all the issues we had with our greens coming out of dormancy in 2016 <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=6812901985799422211;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=27;src=postname">Greens issue in 2016</a> we were thrilled with the conditions of the greens, and the golf course as a whole, this year. The hours of blood, sweat, and tears poured into the golf course by our fantastic agronomy staff lead by Assistant Golf Course Superintendent Willie Hamby really began to shine and the course was the best it has been in as many years as I can remember. </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=7119739862248102151;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=5;src=postname">Summer Aerification of 2017</a> went off without a hitch and was the most productive we have ever had at Harrison Bay. Over the five days we were closed we were able to perform many much needed cultural practices to improve the course including creating over 18 million new breathing holes in the greens, scalped down over 10 acres of tees and green surrounds to provide for better playing surfaces, sliced over 32 acres of fairways with the Aerway shatter tine aerifier, and applied over 150 tons of sand to greens, tees and surrounds to provide smoother, better draining, and better playing surfaces. </div>
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On the environmental front, the beauty and peacefulness of our course was clearly evident again this year. From the new fawns that curiously watched us go about our day, to the fledging of HB 11 and HB 12 from the <a href="http://www.harrisonbayeaglecam.org/">Harrison Bay Eagle Cam Project</a>, to renewing our <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2681271620990079352#editor/target=post;postID=8528745768416919184;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=4;src=postname">environmental certification with Golf Environment Organization</a> the benefits of being stewards of the environment were numerous. We were honored this year to have our Electric Equipment Initiative featured in GCSAA's Golf Course Management magazine <a href="http://www.gcmonline.com/features/2017/07/19/can-you-hear-me-now">Can You Hear Me Now?</a>. </div>
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The future is bright and we are very much looking forward to another prosperous year in 2018. We will continue to work to improve the conditions and playability of the course. We have several projects in mind for this upcoming year including new fencing around the parking lot and front entrance, sod work on areas near #2 green and along the cart path on #16, bunker renovations as funds present themselves, and continued work on our greens to make them the best they can possibly be. </div>
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Thank you again to everyone who made 2017 successful and we hope you and yours had a great year and we wish you nothing but the best in 2018. <br /><br /></div>
Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-89708112967924195262017-11-06T21:25:00.000-05:002017-11-06T21:25:28.070-05:00Harrison Bay Eagle Cam 2017 Season Takes Flight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDz2Q3OXZti5vdczsyE5VlVwbv3wutIgJnfcc7Qrf0cUK_HYxHDy33Q3aogHWL3TVTGWg6QVsn_XHhrtODrZfiyCxDpTkpC8VVfu4xh6eoyq-bxl3gCEw5y0sXOs_FRDb5GR3Or9FDCA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-06+at+3.48.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDz2Q3OXZti5vdczsyE5VlVwbv3wutIgJnfcc7Qrf0cUK_HYxHDy33Q3aogHWL3TVTGWg6QVsn_XHhrtODrZfiyCxDpTkpC8VVfu4xh6eoyq-bxl3gCEw5y0sXOs_FRDb5GR3Or9FDCA/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-06+at+3.48.40+PM.png" width="320" /></a>After a very frustrating season last year, <a href="http://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2017/01/hbec-is-experiencing-technical.html">HBEC Experiencing Technical Issues</a>, where we lost all communication to the PTZ camera in the top of the tree. We are happy to announce that after a lot of hard work on the part of a lot of people and a tremendous amount of patience by our supporters and chatters, the Harrison Bay Eagle Cam Project is back up and running. We are hoping that this year will be much more successful and will not have the issues we have experienced in the past.<br />
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Earlier this fall Angelo came down to the course and removed all the equipment from the top of the tree. The equipment was inspected for damage but none was found. We can't really say why the camera stopped communicating but we believe it was a wiring issue going up the tree. In the past the wires were not protected from things that could have damaged them like an animal chewing through them. This year all cables were run in flexible conduit all the way from control box to camera. We also purchased a secondary camera which is also mounted in the nest tree which will serve as a backup, complete with its own microphone and infrared light. Live and learn!!!<br />
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We get asked a lot about what all it takes to provide this great and unique experience and it takes a lot. It takes a lot of time, planning, work, and expertise. To the right is a photo of the communication and power connections at the base of the tree. There is a lot of stuff going on in this photo including fiber optic conversion, IP camera Power over Ethernet adapters, data switchers, microphone power injectors, and more. This is not your average "plug and play" set up. So if you want to start a streaming website program I am not discouraging you, I'm just letting you know you can't go down to your local Walmart and pick this package up.<br />
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So let's give some credit to the people that make this project work. Matt Vawter, pictured with Mr. Jim Morgan of <a href="http://friendsofharrisonbay.org/">The Friends of Harrison Bay State Park</a>, is a Park Ranger at Harrison Bay State Park and is the brains behind the entire project. Without Matt being willing and able to create our website, determine which equipment was needed and how to make it all work, and be able to program the cameras to get out to the internet we would all be looking at a blank screen. When you sit around your computer screen and enjoy the eaglets hatching out of their eggs it is because of Matt's hard work.<br />
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The other piece to the puzzle is Angelo Giansante. Angelo is the Park Manager at Hiwassee Ocoee Scenic River State Park and has been involved in the project since the beginning. Angelo is in charge of installing and maintaining the cameras and everything else up in the top of the tree. Without hesitation when we call and ask Angelo to come down and climb the 100' to the nest he never turns us down and says it is one of the best projects he's worked on. So much like Matt when you are enjoying the sights and sounds of HBEC Angelo is a vital part of the project.<br />
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We are extremely happy to be back online and streaming and hope to have a much better year this year. We have learned some very hard lessons over the year and although we are not the biggest eagle cam project out there, nor do we want to be, we do everything we can to provide this glimpse into the nesting life of a bald eagle family.<br />
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Again we want to thank all our loyal followers who have patiently waited for us to be back on line. If you have not experienced this great project we encourage you to join us at <a href="http://www.harrisonbayeaglecam.org/">www.harrisonbayeaglecam.org</a> as we hopefully watch Elliott and Eliza lay a couple eggs and raise a new brood of bald eagles that will take to the skies. </div>
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-53917468685592315152017-10-22T11:47:00.000-04:002017-10-22T11:47:17.291-04:00Late Season Improvements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are starting to put a wrap on what has been a very successful season at the course. Hard work by the agronomy staff and some great weather has allowed us to experience one of our best years of conditions ever. The issues that we had with the greens last year are a distant memory, but not forgotten, and the greens are in fabulous shape. The course has recovered from all the work done during summer aerification and the surrounds which were shaved down have smoothed up nicely. All in all it has been a great summer.<br />
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As the temps start to drop some of our work will switch from mowing grass to the inevitable leaf war that we fight every year but we also have a few late season projects that we have been working on around the course. The first one we have completed is replacing the netting at the back of the driving range. The old netting was torn in several places and was basically useless for stopping range balls from going in the woods and was dangerous to the wildlife, mostly deer, as they walked through in the dark.<br />
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We decided to use a woven windscreen this time as we believe it will last longer and would not be a danger to the wildlife as they can hopefully see this screen easier. Willie and Shane spent several days replacing and adding posts that needed to be replaced and secured new wires along the posts to secure the windscreen to. <br />
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The other project that we will be working on over the next couple of weeks is the replacement of the old short split rail fencing which is rotting and falling down and the unsightly rope barriers located around the course. It would be ideal not to have to have traffic barriers around the course as the distract from the appearance of the course and add extra work for the agronomy staff but unfortunately they are necessary as not everyone follows the cart rules and drives where they are supposed to. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xgGjtT9AaqzJ8de_WjYpKbGz3PFy2jrAbjJ4wNpT_e8I7f_Wk_eg7yypaj_bVNNV3uxOeGfyMcCOmG0YJNY4iwTQ5w2PMpbuNfHnxToOo_jivpnb3Dyai3c6KJ0I8IizPD6GeM0W2cs/s1600/IMG_2430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xgGjtT9AaqzJ8de_WjYpKbGz3PFy2jrAbjJ4wNpT_e8I7f_Wk_eg7yypaj_bVNNV3uxOeGfyMcCOmG0YJNY4iwTQ5w2PMpbuNfHnxToOo_jivpnb3Dyai3c6KJ0I8IizPD6GeM0W2cs/s320/IMG_2430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We rented an auger to drill new holes for the posts for new fences which I am sure you have seen around the course. We have chosen to use 6" x 4" pressure treated ground contact posts this time so they will not rot and will not likely get broken or knocked over as the untreated pine split rail posts tended to. Buried 2 feet in the ground this will leave us with 2 feet exposed to create the fencing look that we are going after.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTacGICDk2FdpJx4IEkNZj6uYmgEKZExKJ-bvyeAK6V5W7OczttDyb3pZGO2WeKTLIcSoSoIVwSBqMi0lb5OUCBFQKW8HGAZenWRGOYi0QY-aSHAYSxy2FPbsaAagYxvYho9TD3mKPPw/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTacGICDk2FdpJx4IEkNZj6uYmgEKZExKJ-bvyeAK6V5W7OczttDyb3pZGO2WeKTLIcSoSoIVwSBqMi0lb5OUCBFQKW8HGAZenWRGOYi0QY-aSHAYSxy2FPbsaAagYxvYho9TD3mKPPw/s320/IMG_2435.JPG" width="320" /></a>Pressure treated 2" x 6" railings will be used this time for the same reasons as the posts, less likely to rot and will last for a real long time. 36" openings will be left in the railings at the walking paths for our guests who walk and/or use push carts but are not wide enough for golf carts to travel through, so please don't try. <br />
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Projects like these two are simple ways to keep the golf course protected and looking good. It isn't always a complete greens rebuild or a 5,000' drainage project that can make a big impact on the appearance and playability of a course. Sometimes it is the little details that make the difference. We will hopefully be done with the fencing project in a few weeks depending on weather and play and we hope you like the new additions and the look. Other projects in line for this winter will be renovating the timbers around the steps leading up to the clubhouse, installation of crossties along cart paths on a few holes, and if we get the time before it gets too late we would like to renovate and sod the area between the fairway and the cart path near #2 green. All projects designed to improve the course that we all love so much. <br />
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Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-49479836035326960692017-09-15T22:08:00.000-04:002017-09-15T22:08:27.294-04:00Better Conditions through Better Communications<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We recently made an investment by purchasing walkie talkies or radios for each member of the agronomy staff and it is already showing benefits to our operation. Our golf course is spread out over 600 acres of property. Trying to track employees down to give them an instruction or calling or texting them on their personal phone, which I never felt was fair to use their minutes or data, was very frustrating, inefficient and and a tremendous waste of time. In speaking with several of my mentors in the industry who have taken this step and experiencing this setup when I volunteer at East Lake Golf Club each year for the TOUR Championship it seemed like a great idea.<br />
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By providing each member of our team with their own radio it makes our entire operation more efficient. We can give instructions or corrections in real time without having to stop what we are doing and go find them or hope they answer their phone or see the text they have been sent. Employees can be redirected to areas of the course where they are needed easier, mechanical issues can be reported to our equipment technician quicker, if there is an irrigation leak, tree down, or any other major issue occurs on the course we can be notified immediately. From a management standpoint, having each crew member with the same radios, on the same frequency means that instructions, good or bad, given to one employee are heard by all so the entire staff knows what we are trying to accomplish in our work. The radios which were purchased from Smith Turf and Irrigation for $192.00 each (programmed and delivered) have already shown to be a benefit and wise investment.<br />
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For the golfers this investment in our operations will hopefully mean a safer and better quality of golf course. As I said before our course covers a large amount of property, now each of our staff members will be equipped with the capability to call for assistance if there is an injury or a medical emergency to a guest on our course. We will be able to work more efficiently and be able to contact each other to find gaps in play or know what is left to be done on the course so we can stay out of your way better. I believe over time as we continue to work toward having the best golf course we can this investment will pay benefits over and over and over.<br />
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Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-85287457684169191842017-09-02T17:33:00.000-04:002017-09-03T17:31:00.483-04:00Golf Environment Organization Recertification Achieved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am proud to announce that The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay has completed recertification with the Golf Environment Organization <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/">http://www.golfenvironment.org</a> to remain a GEO Certified golf course. We gained our original certification in 2014 <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2014/05/golf-environment-organization-geo.html">GEO 2014 certification</a>. The Golf Environment Organization is a worldwide leader in environmental sustainability based in Europe with member courses all over the world. The thing I enjoy the most about GEO certification is that they look at all aspects of the golf course operations not just what is happening on the course. GEO looks at things like whether or not you are purchasing locally grown produce for food preparation, how far your fuel has to be delivered which impacts your carbon footprint, what your involvement with the local community is, to all aspects of the property. For us, being that we are located on Harrison Bay State Park property, this examination into our environmental programs expanded outside of the boundaries of the course to include all the projects undertaken and impacts made property wide.<br />
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The certification or recertification process with GEO really got us looking into our complete operation and got us to see things that we were doing correctly and things that we could improve on. There are six sections of certification with GEO and our inputs and reports from these areas can be found here.<br />
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The content of our Nature section can be viewed here <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory/1609_the_bear_trace_at_harrison_bay#nature_content">The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay---Nature</a><br />
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The content of our Water section can be viewed here <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory/1609_the_bear_trace_at_harrison_bay#water_content">The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay---Water</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ43B5oTARKG431RORTN7NMX_EgOKLarxqwpm5nV88meVsssxBtEuEmxMa3Y2x19BD86HpuGYPlUPSjKproay0vUz6STEBsVs_onflZhPmdJv0mWD9_NUTltAS7ywrUiN2bT_B5DAls_o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-02+at+12.56.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="736" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ43B5oTARKG431RORTN7NMX_EgOKLarxqwpm5nV88meVsssxBtEuEmxMa3Y2x19BD86HpuGYPlUPSjKproay0vUz6STEBsVs_onflZhPmdJv0mWD9_NUTltAS7ywrUiN2bT_B5DAls_o/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-02+at+12.56.28+PM.png" width="320" /></a>The content of our Pollution Control section can be viewed here <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory/1609_the_bear_trace_at_harrison_bay#environmental_content">The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay---Pollution Control</a><br />
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The content of our Supply Chain section can be viewed here <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory/1609_the_bear_trace_at_harrison_bay#supply_content">The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay---Supply Chain</a><br />
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The content of our Energy section can be viewed here <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory/1609_the_bear_trace_at_harrison_bay#energy_content">The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay---Energy</a><br />
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The content of our Community section can be viewed here <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory/1609_the_bear_trace_at_harrison_bay#communities_content">The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay---Community</a><br />
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We are very grateful to our department leaders locally and in Nashville for all their support in obtaining our original certification and in gaining this recertification. Special thanks go to Mr. Robin Boyer, BT@HB GM and Golf Professional, Mr. Don Campbell, Park Manager and Mr. Matt Vawter, Park Ranger at <a href="http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/harrison-bay">Harrison Bay State Park</a> for their assistance in sharing and gathering information about the history and impact of Harrison Bay State Park. Special thanks also has to go to Mrs. Diane Johnstone and Mr. Jim Morgan of the <a href="http://friendsofharrisonbay.org/">Friends of Harrison Bay State Park</a> for sharing how the Friends Group assist in providing support and funding for some park projects including the <a href="http://harrisonbayeaglecam.org/">Harrison Bay Eagle Cam Project</a> and also how they are assisting the golf course by being members of the BT@HB Bluebird monitors <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2016/05/bthb-bluebird-trail-is-thriving.html">Bluebird Trail is Thriving</a>.<br />
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We are very proud to be among this list of only 11 courses in the United States to have obtained GEO certification. <a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory?country=United+States&gb_country=&us_state=&ca_province=&category=certified">GEO Certified United States courses</a><br />
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The recertification process is very educational as you get to step back and look at your operation from a distance and then dive in to gather specific information for each category. I am always excited to see how others view our environmental projects and practices and was thrilled when GEO assigned Ms. Teresa Wade of <a href="http://www.engagesustainablesolutions.com/netpositivegolf.html">Net Positive Golf</a> to be our independent verifier. Our complete independent verification report prepared by Ms. Wade can be read here--<a href="http://www.golfenvironment.org/assets/0004/8715/Bear_Trace_first_renewal_TW_2017.pdf">2017 GEO Verification Report</a><br />
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<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-71197398622481021512017-08-06T15:27:00.000-04:002017-08-06T15:27:18.871-04:00Summer Aerification 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfolAUqweiG1IQ2MHvAaYhDu6wpNr8M2NPI2wbxIYjlfDBea2P2k92IyAUuxAmPOEKzly7XXrEisKFF2bxgkow0OQJG-GwGVnNnYDjr8XfkyXEfsHlFPNwEjKwfy89JTLZuCirSrwV70/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfolAUqweiG1IQ2MHvAaYhDu6wpNr8M2NPI2wbxIYjlfDBea2P2k92IyAUuxAmPOEKzly7XXrEisKFF2bxgkow0OQJG-GwGVnNnYDjr8XfkyXEfsHlFPNwEjKwfy89JTLZuCirSrwV70/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
As you probably know the golf course was closed this past week so the agronomy staff could perform the necessary cultural practices on the course needed to have a high performing and well conditioned golf course. We realize that this closure is not a desirable event to many golfers but it is vital to the long term playability of the course. We have done our best to limit our cultural practices to this one week out of the year as to not impact your round and we thank you for your understanding and commitment to our course.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NLO8jFgBG50/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NLO8jFgBG50?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
During summer closure week we try to accomplish as many tasks as possible to relieve the compaction and wear the course receives during the year as well as make improvements that we feel the course needs and will improve our guests experience. Usually I try and post photos of the activities but this year the agronomy staff completed so many tasks in such a short time I thought you might like a video of the week. <br />
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So what did we accomplish this week??<br />
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<u>Over 18 MILLION</u> new holes were created in the putting greens relieving the compaction from the past year, removing a years worth of thatch growth, and providing channels for new, stronger plants and roots to develop.<br />
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4 acres of teeing surfaces were solid tine aerified<br />
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10 acres of tee and green surrounds were scalped down for better play<br />
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32 acres of fairways were sliced with our Aerway shattertine aerifier to improve fairway health.<br />
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Around 150 tons of sand were applied to the golf course turf including greens, tees, and greens surrounds to help firm up the playing surfaces, fill in aerification holes, and provide a smoother playing surface.<br />
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and many other smaller activities.<br />
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One of the improvements to the course that we hope you will quickly notice and enjoy is the lowering of the height of cut of the turfgrass directly surrounding the greens. For years we have been maintaining this turfgrass close to 1/2" which resulted in balls getting caught on slopes and not running onto the greens surface or limiting the options golfers had to play their shot onto the green. The turf surround the greens was scalped down to 1/4" and topdressed with sand to help firm up the turf and provide a smoother surface allowing the golf ball to hopefully roll onto the putting surface easier and also allow golfers the option to putt their ball from off the green if they choose which in the past would not have rally been an option. We will continue to work these areas and improve them over the remainder of the year and we hope you find the new maintenance practice pleasing to your game.<br />
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Our golf course has made considerable improvements over the years and it is all due to the hard work and dedication of the agronomy staff. I would be remise if I did not recognize and commend these individuals for their commitment to the betterment of Harrison Bay. </div>
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Thank you to each member of our agronomy staff for making The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay all it can be, not only this week, but every week.</div>
<br />Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-34877359883355658212017-07-15T12:35:00.000-04:002017-07-15T12:35:30.864-04:00Electric Equipment Initiative Rolls On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Several years ago we began a program utilizing fully electric equipment on our golf course that we called the <a href="https://bthbgcm.blogspot.com/2013/05/electric-equipment-initiative-goes.html">Electric Equipment Initiative</a>. We needed a new mower for the clubhouse grounds recently, so sticking with our philosophy of reducing fuel use and carbon emissions, we purchased the <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-21-in-56-Volt-Lithium-ion-Cordless-Battery-Self-Propelled-Mower-with-7-5Ah-Battery-and-Charger-Included-LM2102SP/206515944">EGO Lithium-ion battery powered mower</a> from The Home Depot. <br />
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The EGO mower is a fully electric 21inch self propelled mower powered by a 56 volt lithium-ion rechargeable battery that will run for about one hour and will fully recharge in an hour. The biggest question we had was, Would the mower have enough power to mow around the entire clubhouse on a single charge? We are pleased to say that the mower has enough power to do the job and then some. <br />
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The EGO mower is great. It is quiet so we are not disrupting golfers, guests, or clubhouse employees while we are mowing around the clubhouse. It is lightweight so we really don't even have to use the self propel function if we don't want to. It continues to help us save fuel, eliminate the possible environmental contamination with oils or fluids and eliminates the emission of harmful carbon emissions. It looks really cool as well...it has headlights so we can silently mow in the dark if we choose. <br />
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The EGO mower, since it doesn't have any fluids or gas in it to spill out, can be stored in almost any position. The mower folds up easily to about the size of a 50 pound bag of seed and can be stored out of the way, up against a wall to save space. <br />
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The purchase of this fully electric push mower brings our electric equipment project "full circle". After all. it was an electric lawnmower used by Ms. Lori Munkeboe's neighbor early on a weekend morning that got the conversation about utilizing fully electric equipment on our golf course started. This mower is just another great addition to our fleet and we hope to add more electric elements to our toolbox in the future.<br />
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We are excited and honored to be able to detail the history and success of our Electric Equipment Initiative in this month's Golf Course Management magazine in an article <a href="http://gcmdigital.gcsaa.org/i/842010-jul-2017">"Can You Hear Me Now?"</a> starting on page 46. I have had the pleasure of telling our story to several organizations across the country over the past several years and I hope this article will be able to reach many more and get them thinking about the advantages of using fully electric equipment to maintain their golf course. This was a fun article to write and I have to say thanks to everyone who helped me complete this article and get it in print. <br />
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If you have any questions about using electric equipment on your course, or possibly, at your home please let me know. If I can be of any assistance I will gladly answer any questions that I can.</div>
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Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2681271620990079352.post-8696081115352987652017-07-08T16:49:00.000-04:002017-07-08T16:49:16.239-04:00Golfers Determine Course Conditions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOun-KeHwgnTm0o7Hftmnym1Carxiv7ROgRDQW600fkhKqK2k2pheg7uS6kuxbNGjSQnVqoWXkO5ewFqqfWl5sv9gyX2bGHoaHtVaoEbWp0Av4DNBpR4qcnYv5iZnXHaW3S_DV0_oaieg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-18+at+5.13.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1212" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOun-KeHwgnTm0o7Hftmnym1Carxiv7ROgRDQW600fkhKqK2k2pheg7uS6kuxbNGjSQnVqoWXkO5ewFqqfWl5sv9gyX2bGHoaHtVaoEbWp0Av4DNBpR4qcnYv5iZnXHaW3S_DV0_oaieg/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-18+at+5.13.56+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
If you follow our Twitter feed (@BearTraceHB) you may enjoy the daily information about course rules and conditions, reminders and updates about upcoming tournaments and cultural practices, and sometimes you may have to deal with a "friendly reminder" or rant from me about improper care from golfers of the course. These are not meant to be rude or disrespectful, just meant to remind you that you, the golfer, have a greater impact on the conditioning of your golf course than the golf course maintenance staff does. If you want your golf course to be a championship caliber golf course then you have to treat it like a championship caliber golf course.<br />
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Golfers may think the course rules for the day, such as where carts can travel or if they are allowed off the paths, are done to punish them or impede on their round but this is far from the truth. Course rules are made to protect the golf course and sometimes the golfer. Carts are sometimes restricted from some areas to ensure the course is protected from damage so that it is in good shape for all, not only today but in the future as well. As one great golf course superintendent once commented "If everyone drove in the good grass, there would always be good grass." This is absolutely accurate. If carts will scatter and not play "follow the leader" there will be less stress on the turf and in turn better turf for everyone to play on.<br />
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Golfers respecting and taking care of the golf course extends from the tee box where they can place their broken tees in collection bins or fill sand divots (if these amenities are available) to the fairways where divots can be replaced or filled with sand, to the bunkers where they should be raked following play, to the greens where ball marks should be PROPERLY repaired. All these little things add up to keeping the golf course in top condition and take just a little bit of effort from each golfer.<br />
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Taking care of the golf course also extends to the practice areas. Proper care of the practice areas, such as using the divot pattern to the right, will allow these 25 divots to recover much quicker than the other 25 divots. Practice green etiquette is also a big contributor to golf course condition for everyone. Practicing putting is a vital part of honing ones game but please do not stand in one place for an extended amount of time as this will weaken the turf and could eventually kill it.<br />
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Each golf course maintenance department only has a certain amount of money to spend on labor, equipment, or products. Every action the golfer takes, either harmful or beneficial, greatly impacts the conditioning of the course. Please remember this the next time you play and think about where you drive, how you leave the bunker after you play out of it, or whether or not you properly repair your ball mark on the green and how these will affect the course. I'll make you this promise. Our Agronomy Staff will be at the course every day working hard to make the golf course the best it can be but we will be able to accomplish so much more with your help. Please help us out and help to make our course all that it can be.Paul L. Carter, CGCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00613027757238490240noreply@blogger.com1